Air supply means for life preservers



March 20, 1945. H; B. WHITE AIR SUPPLY MEANS FOR LIFE PRESERVERSOriginal Filed March 27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor arch 20, 1945.

H. B. WHITE AIR SUPPLY MEANS FOR LIFE PRESERVERS 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2Original Filed March 27, 1943 Inventor I Attorney;

Patented Mar. 20, 1945 AIR SUPPLY MEANS FOR LIFE PRESERVERS Harry B.White, Wilmington, N.

Original application March 2'1, 1943, Serial No. 480,821. Divided andthis application October 21, 1943, Serial No. 507,138

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in life preserversand more particularly to novel means for supplying air thereto.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a lifepreserver containing a reservoir or container for air or expansible gaswhich can be liberated into the preserver proper during an emergency.

Futher, the present application is a division of my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 480,821, filed March 27, 1943, for Life savingapparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothe reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view through the life preservershowing the air supply means.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on theline 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the air containers. I

Figure 5 is an elevational view of one section of the valve.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the other section of the valve.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen that numeral 5 denotes an annular body encircling tube whichmay be constructed as shown in Figure 1. Inside of the annulus 5 at apair of diametrically opposite points, are horizontal shelves 1 andrising from these shelves 1, which are preferably perforated, arerectangular-shaped wall structures 8, each having a transverse partition9 adjacent one end to divide the interior of the wall into chambers IE)and II.

The chamber ll contains a receptacle 12 of a form to conform with thecurvature of the annulus 5, this receptacle l2 preferably having athreaded neck l3 at one end adapted to be connected by a couplingelement M to a gooseneck 15, which extends through the correspondingpartition 9 and terminates in the compartment [0 over a valve unitgenerally referred to by numeral 16, this .valve unit I6 being made upof an upper fixed section I! and a lower rotatable section I8, the uppersection ll having a depending lug 19 which rides in a short slot 20 ofthe lower section 18. These sections I! and I8 are connected by a screwelement 2| passing through central openings 22 in the sections and thesesections are formed with registrable openings 23, 24.

A control shaft 25 is vertically disposed in the compartment Ill butextends downwardly through It can be seen that underlying each shelf 1is V a transverse partition 29 supporting a,packing coupling 30, thisreceiving the lower'valve element l8. With these partitions 29 atdiametrically opposite portions of the interior of the annulus 5, theannulus 5 is divided into a pair of air chambers AB, and when theopenings 23, 24 of the valve 16 register, air from the air receptacles12 (or receptacle if only one is being used at a time) is supplied toboth chambers AB.

It can be seen that each of the wall structures 8 rises to the perimeterof an Opening 3| in the top of the annulus 5 and a closure plate 36 isprovided for each of these openings, the closure plates being disposedover suitable packing element 3'! and provided with suitable hinges 40'and detent means 38.

It should be seen that the packing gland 26 for the valve shaft 25 andfor supporting the valve structure l6 and the gooseneck I5 is mounted ona. movable plate 39 secured in lace to the shelf by screws 40.

Thevalve units l6 are normally closed. When it is necessary to do so,air may be supplied to the chambers A, B by rotating any valve section.

18 to align the openings 23, 24 therein with the corresponding openings23, 24 in the valve section I! so that air in the receptacle [2controlled by the valve unit l6 thus opened may discharge from saidreceptacle through. neck I3 and goose-' neck l5 into said chambersthrough. the thus opened valve unit 16. This opening of a valve unit l6may be accomplished by opening the closure plate 36 and turning theappropriate shaft 25 in the proper direction.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a life saving device, an air tight annulus, a perforated shelf insaid annulus, a rectangular wallstructure on said shell having apartition therein dividing the structure into a pair of relatively largeand small chambers, a storage receptacle for compressed air disposed inthe large chamber, a valve in the small chamber depending therefrombelow the shelf, a detachable connection between the receptacle andvalve extending through the partitionand means to operate said valvecomprising a controlling shaft in the small chamber.

2. In a life saving device, an air tight annulus, I

a perforated shelf in said annulus, a rectangular wall structure on saidshelf having a partition therein dividing the structure into a pair ofrelatively large and small chambers; a storage receptacle for compressedair disposed in the large chamber, a valve in the small chamberdepending therefrom below the shelf, a detachable connection between thereceptacle and valve extending through the partition, means to operatesaid valve comprising a controlling shaft in the small chamber, and atransverse supporting partition in the annulus underlying the shelf anddividing the annulus said valve communicating with the annulus upon bothsides of said last partition.

HARRY B. WHITE.

